[Federal Register: July 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 143)]
[Notices]
[Page 44099-44100]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jy03-90]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Lake Casitas Resource Management Plan, Ventura County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a draft environmental impact
statement (EIS).
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2) (c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation proposes to prepare a
draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Lake Casitas Resource
Management Plan (RMP), which will be issued concurrent with the DEIS.
Reclamation will be conducting two public scoping meetings to elicit
comments on the scope and issues to be addressed in both the RMP and
EIS. The date and time of these meetings are listed below. Reclamation
is also seeking written comments, as noted below. The Draft RMP and
DEIS are expected to be issued in late 2004.
DATES: Submit written comments on or before September 23, 2003.
The two scoping meetings will be held as follows:
[sbull] September 24, 2003, at 7 p.m., Ojai, CA 93023
[sbull] September 25, 2003, at 7 p.m., Ventura, CA 93001
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the RMP and DEIS should be
sent to Mr. Dan Holsapple, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central
California Area Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721-1813; or by
telephone at 559-487-5409; or faxed to 559-487-5130 (TDD 559-487-5933).
The meeting locations are:
[sbull] Ojai, California, at the Soule Golf Course, Banquet Room,
1033 East Ojai Avenue
[sbull] Ventura, California, at the E.P. Foster Library, Topping
Room, 651 East Main Street
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dan Holsapple, Bureau of
Reclamation, 559-487-5409.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Casitas Project (originally called the
Ventura Project) was constructed in the early 1950's by Reclamation on
behalf of Ventura County and Casitas Municipal Water District
(Casitas). The project includes Casitas Dam, Lake Casitas, the
developed Recreation Area at the north end of the lake, and the Open
Space Lands north of the lake, purchased in the late 1970's. Casitas
operates the dam and manages the Open Space Lands under contracts with
Reclamation. Casitas manages the Recreation Area, although a formal
contract has not been established with Reclamation to date.
Reclamation is preparing a RMP for government lands associated with
the Casitas Project, including the Recreation Area. The RMP will
include long-term management actions to protect natural resources while
maintaining and enhancing recreational opportunities. The RMP will be
used to guide the development of a long-term recreation contract
between Reclamation and the non-Federal Managing Partner, Casitas.
The RMP will specifically address the Recreation Area, the entire
lake, and all government land surrounding the lake. The objective of an
RMP is to establish management objectives, guidelines, and actions to
be implemented by Reclamation directly, or through its recreation
contract with Casitas, that will protect the water supply and water
quality functions of Lake Casitas; protect and enhance natural and
cultural resources in the Recreation Area consistent with Federal law
and Reclamation policies; and provide recreational opportunities and
facilities consistent with the Project purposes and Reclamation
policies.
The development of the RMP will be performed within the authorities
provided by the Congress through the Reclamation Act, Federal Water
Project Recreation Act, Reclamation Recreation Management Act, and
applicable agency and Department of the Interior policies.
The RMP will be developed based on a comprehensive inventory of
environmental resources and Project facilities. It will include an
analysis of the natural resources of the area, the identification of
land use suitability and capability, and the development of management
policies, objectives, responsibilities, guidelines, and plans. The
overall purpose of an RMP is to foster stewardship of Reclamation
lands. The RMP will enable managers to make land-use and resource
decisions that are consistent with the overall management objectives of
Reclamation land and water areas and the needs of the public. The RMP
will assist Reclamation in minimizing conflicts among the competing
interests and types of use at Lake Casitas.
[[Page 44100]]
The plan will be developed with input from various agencies and
parties, including (but not limited to) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and National Marine Fisheries Service, Ventura County (various
departments), Casitas, City of Ojai, environmental and community
groups, and the public. The plan will be used to guide future
recreational uses and administrative arrangements to be considered by
Reclamation in the establishment of a recreation contract with Casitas.
The primary emphasis of the RMP will be protecting Project water
supply, water quality, and natural resources, while enhancing
recreational uses at and surrounding the lake. Specific issue areas to
be addressed include (among others): management of the Casitas Open
Space lands north of Highway 150 to protect water quality; improvements
and expansion of recreational facilities in the Recreation Area;
potential new trails surrounding the lake; expanded areas for boat
fishing; protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources;
coordination with adjacent activities on the National Forest; and fire
management practices.
The environmental impacts of the RMP and associated alternatives
will be assessed in an EIS that will be prepared concurrent with the
RMP. The environmental review will focus on the potential for
management actions to cause adverse environmental impacts to natural
and cultural resources such as water quality, endangered species,
public safety, and historic resources. It will include an analysis of
alternative land, recreation, and natural resource management
approaches.
Reclamation practice is to make comments, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review. Individual
respondents may request that we withhold their home address from public
disclosure, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There
also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a respondent's
identity from public disclosure, as allowable by law. If you wish us to
withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at
the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, available for public disclosure in their entirety.
Dated: July 3, 2003.
Robert Eckart,
Chief, Environmental Compliance Branch, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 03-18952 Filed 7-24-03; 8:45 am]